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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NHS Wales: Changes to help health boards 'balance books' | NHS Wales: Changes to help health boards 'balance books' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Health boards could be given three years to balance budgets instead of one under Welsh government proposals. | Health boards could be given three years to balance budgets instead of one under Welsh government proposals. |
| It says a new bill being introduced in the Senedd would give those running hospitals more flexibility and allow for "prudent long term decisions". | It says a new bill being introduced in the Senedd would give those running hospitals more flexibility and allow for "prudent long term decisions". |
| Health boards have struggled to balance the books by the end of each financial year despite Welsh government cash injections. | Health boards have struggled to balance the books by the end of each financial year despite Welsh government cash injections. |
| If approved, the new system would come into force by the start of April. | If approved, the new system would come into force by the start of April. |
| Since Wales' seven health boards were set up, they have found it difficult to manage their finances on a yearly basis, even with cash help from the Welsh government. | Since Wales' seven health boards were set up, they have found it difficult to manage their finances on a yearly basis, even with cash help from the Welsh government. |
| Hospital consultants say the situation means accident and emergency departments are often at the point of meltdown during the last few months before the end of the financial year, partly because bosses are trying to meet targets. | Hospital consultants say the situation means accident and emergency departments are often at the point of meltdown during the last few months before the end of the financial year, partly because bosses are trying to meet targets. |
| Now Health Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that he wants to give health boards three years, not one, in order to plan their finances. | Now Health Minister Mark Drakeford has announced that he wants to give health boards three years, not one, in order to plan their finances. |
| 'Long overdue' | 'Long overdue' |
| The Welsh government said the change would mean last minute spending decisions at the end of the financial year would be avoided, something it admits can "stop activity on services and impact on the service delivery to NHS patients". | The Welsh government said the change would mean last minute spending decisions at the end of the financial year would be avoided, something it admits can "stop activity on services and impact on the service delivery to NHS patients". |
| It also said the bill would give health boards a more realistic timetable in terms of implementing bigger projects and would enable managers to come up with clearer, more coherent plans. | It also said the bill would give health boards a more realistic timetable in terms of implementing bigger projects and would enable managers to come up with clearer, more coherent plans. |
| It added that there would be close monitoring of the health boards' finances under the new system to ensure that they don't overspend significantly in any one year. | |
| Darren Millar, the Conservatives' shadow health minister, has in the past said the decision to move to a three year system is "long overdue and extremely welcome". | Darren Millar, the Conservatives' shadow health minister, has in the past said the decision to move to a three year system is "long overdue and extremely welcome". |
| Assembly members will debate the proposals in the Senedd on Tuesday. | Assembly members will debate the proposals in the Senedd on Tuesday. |
| The Welsh government hopes the bill will then make its way through the various stages of approval by January and will come into force by the start of April next year. | The Welsh government hopes the bill will then make its way through the various stages of approval by January and will come into force by the start of April next year. |